Portable submersible pump

ABSTRACT

A submersible pump wherein the motor unit is removed from the liquid environment and the motive force for the pump impeller, located in the liquid to be pumped, is transmitted from the motor unit by means of a flexible power shaft. The pump is portable and may have a gear box or a clutch. In addition, the present submersible pump may take the form of an axial flow pump when low to moderate lifts are required at large capacities. A special flexible shaft terminal is provided wherein the pump and impeller are attached directly to the flexible shaft unit.

. I United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,785,752 Crespo 1 Jan. 15, 1974 [54]PORTABLE SUBMERSIBLE PUMP 504,047 7/1930 Germany 415/122 [76] Inventor:Carlos A. Crespo, PO. Box 906, g g g Stamford Conn. 06904 [22] Filed:Sept 1971 Primary ExamineF-C. .1. l-Iusar [2]] Appl. No.: 180,787Assistant ExaminerLeonard Smith Attorney-Alfred E. Miller [52] US. C1...,4l7/319, 64/2 R, 415/123,

1 417/423 1511 1111.01. F04b 35/06, Fl6c 1/02 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Fieldof Search 415/122 123 124 1 A submersible pump wherein the motor umt 15re- 415/140 64/2 417/223 423 moved from the liquid environment and themotive 56] References Cited force for the pumplmpeller, located in theliquid to be pumped, is transmitted from the motor unit by means UNITEDSTATES PATENTS of a flexible power shaft. The pump is portable and1,682,502 8/1928 Gusler et a1. 417/319 X may have a-gear box or aclutch. In addition, the pres- 3,308,764 WaIker ent ubmersible pump maytake the form of an axial 3,273,189 9/1966 Lemon et 415/123 X flow pumpwhen low to moderate lifts are required at 26436l5 6/1953 Murphy et415/140 large capacities. A special flexible shaft terminal is 2,788,1984/1957 Anderson 64/2 R X d h th d n h d 2,784,562 3 1957 Gamundi 417/223x 1 6 w e pump er are 6 directly to the flexible shaft unit. FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,032,542 3/1953 France 415/122 3 Claims, 10Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 1 5:914

SHEET 1 BF 3 FIGI INVENTOR. CARLOS ACRESPO RNEV PATENTED JAN 1 5W4 SHEET2 UF 3 82 FIG. 5

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CARLOS A. CRESPO RNEY/ 1 PORTABLE SUBMERSIBLE PUMP The present inventionrelates to a portable submersible pump in which the impeller unit iswithin the liquid to be pumped, while the motor unit is located outsidethe liquid in a'dry area.

' It is an object of the present invention to provide a split functionsubmersible pump which permits a motor selection from a wide range ofmotor types. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portablesubmersible pump that can be manufactured at a' smaller cost than otherpumps of this type that are currently available.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a submersiblepump which is not restricted to an electric power source but may utilizeas a power source any device capable of producing sustained circularmotion.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a flexible powertransmission line between the separated motor and impeller units of thepump thereby permitting the easy adaptability of the portable pump todifferent locations as well as locations that may be inacessible toknown submersible pumps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a submersible pumpwhich can be adapted to accomodate a reduction gear box or a clutch. Theuse of a clutch with the present device can eliminate any undesirablestresses caused by the motor starting torque.

A further object of the present invention is the ability to reduce thesize of the pump so that it is comparav tively small aend easy totransport.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portablesubmersible pump which is reliably effective for the purposes intended.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

' FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the entire assembly of theportable submersible pump constructed according'to the teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional and side elevational view of the flexibleshaft connecting the motor and the impeller'of the pump.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a slightly modified construction ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another modification of the presentinvention. I

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional and a partial side elevational view of aportable submersible pump of the volute type.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pump having a strainer to limit theintake of solids therein.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a modification of the present invention inwhich the impeller and pump units are connected directly to the flexiblshaft.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional and a partial elevational view of some ofthe details of construction of the flexible driving shaft and itscoupling means.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional and apartial elevational view of analternative construction of the present invention utilizing an axialflow pump and FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the structure-shown inFIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown a portable 2. submersible pump referred to generally byhumeral 14 in which the impeller unit 16 only is submerged in the liquidL. It will be noted that the motor unit 24 is not in the liquidenvironment but is mounted a distance away from the impeller 16 on dryland.

The power transmission between the motor unit 24 and the impeller unit16 takes the form of a flexible driveshaft referred to generally by thenumeral 18. A discharge hose 22 is shown for evacuating the liquidhandled by the impeller unit 16 of the submersible pump 14. A coupling32 couples discharge hose 22 to the discharge conduit extension 34.

Connected between the flexible drive shaft 18 and the impeller unit 16is a mechanism 26 such as gears or a hydraulic system (not shown) thatis operative to increase or reduce the torque or RPM, as required. Atthe other end of the flexible shaft 18 a device 28 can be connectedbetween the flexible shaft 18 and motor unit 24 in the form of aclutch-whereby the stresses created by the starting torque of the motormay be reduced or entirely eliminated.

When it becomes necessary to recover a pump from a hole or crevice,'arope or chain 36 is attached at one end to an eyebolt 40 on the housingof the impeller unit 16 while the other end of the rope is secured ondry land. A strainer 42 is attached to the impeller housing in order toeliminate the ingestion of solid particles into the impeller unit 16with the liquid.

The flexible shaft 18 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. In thisregard, the flexible driving core constitutes a multiplicity of layersof wire 44 which rotate within a 1 bendable metal, or rubber-coveredflexible casing 46.

Mounted on the ends of the casing 46 are ferrules 48 and fittings 49which attach to terminals (not shown) for the drive shaft 18.

FIG. 3 shows a slightly modified construction of the present inventionin which the flexible shaft 52 and the discharge hose 53 are securedtogether by means of clamps 54. Moreover, the impeller housing isprovided with hinged legs 51, for elevating the housing from the surfacebeings pumped, if desired. A handle 55 is shown for ease in transportingthe pump from one location to another.

As seen in FIG. 4, an exterior sheath or cover 58 may be installed onthe impeller housing 59 by means of an annular flexible belt or clamp62. This arrangement creates a unitary construction of the pump impellerunit 59, discharge hose 60 and flexible shaft 61. The sheath '58 is of astrong durable material such as rubber, plastic or canvas. It can bereadily seen that this construction permits the recovery of the pump bymeans of gripping the sheath 58 and lifting, thereby eliminating adevice such as a chain or rope 36 as seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portable submersible pump of the volute casing typewhich is desirable for use under conditiosn where there is a highpercentage of solids in the liquids. The reference numeral 64 refers tothe volute casing which is provided with a pump housing bottom 66secured thereto by means of bolts 77. A bearing supportis secured to thevolute casing 64 by bolts 76. The casing 64 is furthermore provided witha pump stand 68. The impeller 71 in the volute casing 64 is connectedthrough a discharge hose 78. The bottom of casing 64 is provided with apump intake opening 81. The rotating centrifigal pump impeller 71 isdriven by an impeller shaft 72 rotatably mounted in bearing 73. The

impeller shaft 72 is connected to flexible shaft 74 by means of acoupling 79. The impeller shaft seal bears the reference numeral 80while th eyebolts 75 anchor the lift rope 82.

FIG. 6 discloses a pump embodiment having a strainer 88 at the inlet ofthe impeller in orderto limit the intake of solids into the pipe. Thepump housing 85 has a lower diffuser 86 in the pump intake which issecured to the housing 85 by means of bolts 87. The de vice is providedwith ball bearings 93 having a bearing cover 91. The bearings are also'provided with seals 92. A discharge hose 95 evacuates the liquid fromthe pump as described hereinbefore.

FIG. 7 discloses a pump construction wherein the pump bearings and sealshave been eliminated from the pump. Thus, the impeller unit in housing100 is attached directly to the flexible shaft unit. The pump impeller71 is seen attached to the fitting 103 by means of a nut 102.Additionally, the flexible shaft terminal 104 is secured to the pump bymeans of the cover 105 secured by screws 99 and sealed by a gasket 98. Astrainer 118, the function of which is explained above, is secured tothe bottom of the housing 100.

The special flexible shaft terminal of FIG. 7 is shown in greater detailin FIG. 8. This terminal is so constructed to form a mechanical sealunit to protect the bearings and the flexible core of the shaft. Thus,the outer conical surface of the casing terminal mates precisely withthe flexible shaft terminal cover 105 and makes rigid the connectionwith the pump. Accordingly, the fitting 103 for securing the impeller 71is provided with a woodruff key 109. The unit further has a mechanicalseal unit 110 and spaced ball bearings 111. A pair of retaining rings114 are provided for the ball bearings. The seal unit 110 has acover'115, and the flexible casing 112 is shown cut away to reveal theinterior flexible core 113. Bearing lubrication of the device may beachieved through opening 117 which is closed by screw 119.

FIGS. 9 and illustrate another embodiment of the present invention inwhich an axial flow or propeller pump type is used. This construction isparticularly desirable for low to moderate lifts at large capacities. In

this structure, a pump housing 120 is shown having a flexible shaftterminal holder 121 and a bracket 122. The latterby means of screws 123secures the flexibl shaft terminal 126 in the pump. The impeller 124 issecured to the flexible shaft terminal 135' by means of nut 125. Thepump discharge 133 is connected to the pump housing 120 and is in turnconnected to the flexible hose discharge 132. A flexible shaft unit 127is shown having a flexible shaft entry unit 130 which is sealed by meansof an elastic grommet and cover 128. The shaft 127 is further providedwith a reinforcement section 131 which is sealed around the flexiblecasing in order to avoid the compression of the rotating flexible corein that sealed area.

I claim:

1. A portable submersible pump comprising an impeller provided with apump housing, the latter having a liquid inlet therein, an impellermounted in said pump housing and adapted to be operative in a liquidenvironment, a separate motor unit spaced from said pump and adapted tobe located in a dry environment, a flexible power shaft having arotatable core and having one end connected to said motor unit, a casingfor said flexible shaft provided with a terminal secured to said pumphousing, said rotatable core having a fitting at the end of therotatable core which is connected to the impeller whereby the motoroperates said impeller, a bearing and a mechanical seal in said flexibleshaft casing terminal and said seal surrounding said fitting and beingplaced between said fitting and said bearing, and a discharge connectionconnected to said pump housing for discharging said liquid.

2. A portable submersible pump as claimed in claim 1 further comprisinga woodruff key for securing said fitting to said impeller.

3. A portable submersible pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said casingterminal is provided with an external conical surface, and a coversecured to said pump housing having an internal conical surface whichmates precisely with said external conical surface of said casingterminal.

1. A portable submersible pump comprising an impeller provided with apump housing, the latter having a liquid inlet therein, an impellermounted in said pump housing and adapted to be operative in a liquidenvironment, a separate motor unit spaced from said pump and adapted tobe located in a dry environment, a flexible power shaft having arotatable core and having one end connected to said motor unit, a casingfor said flexible shaft provided with a terminal secured to said pumphousing, said rotatable core having a fitting at the end of therotatable core which is connected to the impeller whereby the motoroperates said impeller, a bearing and a mechanical seal in said flexibleshaft casing terminal and said seal surrounding said fitting and beingplaced between said fitting and said bearing, and a discharge connectionconnected to said pump housing for discharging said liquid.
 2. Aportable submersible pump as claimed in claim 1 further comprising awoodruff key for securing said fitting to said impeller.
 3. A portablesubmersible pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said casing terminal isprovided with an external conical surface, and a cover secured to saidpump hoUsing having an internal conical surface which mates preciselywith said external conical surface of said casing terminal.